Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-05-18
WHY MINES ARE FOR SALE.
some OF the Reasons that Make SO
Many Ciaim-O Owners Anxious to EsSell
Out.0

y Sf~im.VWnerS Anxious 10 ~'SelI
Out.0
Mining and Scientific Press.l
Why mere mining claims or loca-
tons on which little or no work has
been done should be offered for sale
is no mystery; but why the owners of
mines that have been opened, equip
ped with plant and brought into a
profitable productive condition should
be seeking buyers for these properties
is, to the uninitiated, matter for won.
derment. And yet even this is easy
OF explanation. 1t often happens that
the owners of these Quilted and
producing mines own also undevel-
oped claims in the neighborhood,
sometimes number of them. In the
value OF these claims they have such
confidence that they would be willing
to spend money in opening and test
ing them if they had or could procure
it for that purpose. These claims, so
long as they remain unprospected, are
valueless, as they cannot in that CON
dition be sold, and, instead of yielding
any income, are a constant tax on the
owner, who, unless they are patented,
is obliged to expend at least $1oO
upon each one of them annually.
With the proceeds arising from tie
sale Of one producing mine, it would
be possible to open up two or three
of these claims and perhaps develop
in each of them large values. Hence
the desire so often manifested by this
class of proprietors to sell what the
English call "going" mine.
Again, it may happen that man,
having spent great many years
building up profitable mining prop
erty, is anxious to get out of the
mountains and take up his residence
where he can for the remnant of his
days enjoy more of the comforts and
Injuries Of life, to which end he may
be willing to dispose of such proper.
ty at a sacrifice. There are cases,
too, in which impaired health or severe
hurts received, incapacitating men for
labor or further usefulness in the
mines, may predispose them to sell
pro6tably producing mine at bar
gain.
AS regards the great mass of miners,
more especially the class known as
prospectors, they make it a part of
their business, and in many cases
their main business is to take up and
hold mines, or rather mining claims,
for the purpose of selling them. On
these claims they are apt to do no
more work than is required to hold
them, though they are to be found in
all stages of development. Not only
so, but they possess every degree of
merit. Some of the veins are large
and some small, some rich and some
poor. AS these deposits vary in prom
Use, so do they vary in the prices ask
ed for them, these prices being largely
dominated by circumstances, often by
the mere whims of the owner.
The men who discover mines are
for the most part practical miners or
professional prospectors. Their CAPT
tai consists of their labor, enterprise,
and capacity to endure exposure,
hardship and fatigue. Going out in
to UNEMPLOYED regions, they find min
eral deposits which they take up and
hold, doing thereon only enough work
to keep good their possessory title to
them. This as a rule is all they are
able to do, and is all that the most of
them ever propose to do, their object
in locating these claims being, as be-
fore remarked, to sell, not hold and
develop them. They have not, in fact,
the means to do this.
When rich or even tolerably good
ore is found at the start, the miner
may be able to not only thoroughly
prospect his claim, but bring it into a
state of active production. But such
occurrence of ore rarely happens
Generally much costly deadwork has
to be done before any considerable
body of pay ore is reached. If the
mine is to be exploited by adlt, this
from the commencement is an ex
pensive business. If by shaft or in
cline, this too becomes expensive al
depth is reached. When pay ore in
quantity is developed, then a mill Oh
other style of reduction works mus
be put up; all of which involves al
expenditure far beyond the common
miners means. There is left him
therefore, no alternative but to sci
his claim for the most he can get TO
it. Hence the many properties o
this kind seeking purchasers, some o
these properties possessing value
that ought to recommend them to in
vestors.
The qualifications that make sue
cessful prospector do not always max
a good business man or even a goo'
practical miner. A frst-class pros
pector requires to be constitutional
, sanguine and hopeful. If trusting
ii va,tnrasona oDd oveu dispOse